Category Archives: Outdoor Enthusiast

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Lounging around the neighborhood pool this summer, I am aware of how many people still choose to buy bottled water. True, it is convenient to toss a few in a cooler when heading out to the pool or beach, but there are so many better alternatives these days, so it still surprises me to see how many people still do it! The latest published statistics state that over half of all Americans drink bottled water!

I thought this might be a good time to remind myself as well as others why we need to “drop the bottle” and filter water at our homes instead:

Reason #1: Negative environmental impact. The production and transportation of bottled water wastes our precious fossil fuels. It takes a plastic water bottle 1,000 years to bio-degrade. Knowing that 80% of water bottles end up in our landfill; that’s a pretty scary statistic! When not recycled, bottles produce mass amounts of litter, not only in landfills, but in our lakes, rivers and oceans.

Reason #2: Cost. The average American spends over $100 per year on bottled water (think $400 per 4 person family on WATER).

Additionally, if you buy bottled water because you feel that it is safer and tastes better than general tap water, there are many alternative options available to you. Visit FiltersFast.com to find a full range of water filtration devices including whole house filtration systems, faucet mount filters, refrigerator filters, filtered water pitchers and water bottles (to throw in the cooler for the pool or beach). These days, home water filtration options are endless.

Aside from the better taste and smell that filtered water provides, there are other benefits to filtering water as well:

More cost effective than buying bottled water

Eliminates the environmental impact of bottled water

Filtering removes unwanted, harmful contaminates from drinking water

This summer, when you head out to the pool, or pack a cooler for the beach, or venture out for a nice hike or picnic, forget the disposable water bottles! Use instead a reusable filtered water bottle or fill some other reusable container with clean filtered water from your refrigerator or other home filtration device.

On April 26, 2014, Team FiltersFast.com will embark on the 2014 Xtreme Hike for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The purpose and goal is that all hikers receive donations to help medical and technological advancements in Cystic Fibrosis research for a cure.

These dedicated hikers will be hiking over 30 miles of the famed Appalachian Trail. These men and women have been training hard for this adventure. Part of the preparation includes a 3 month training program, daily workouts and weekly team hikes.

The hard work and dedication put forth, arises from the commitment of each team member. Each one has their own personal reason for participating, whether having a friend or family member affected by the disease, or being driven to do something charitable for a worthy cause.

FiltersFast.com, owner and hike participant Ray Scardigno, “Knowing my love of hiking and my love of a good challenge, a good friend of mine that has personal ties to CF asked if I would be interested in joining the Xtreme Hike to help raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I researched the foundation and found out how amazing they are and was extremely impressed with their accomplishments in working towards a cure for CF. I went on training hikes with the group and learned more about Cystic Fibrosis by hearing the personal stories of those hikers who have loved ones with Cystic Fibrosis. Since I started hiking the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has made great progress in the fight and hearing the promising updates on new drugs and treatments. It has been a great challenge to be part of the Xtreme hike team and I hope that one day soon the donations will help push us to our goal of “Cure Found!”

Please consider making a donation to help Team FiltersFast.com. FiltersFast.com will match each dollar donated up to $7,500!

My husband has taken up backpacking as a hobby. Little did I know the extent of gear needed for such a minimalist activity! I never gave much thought to specific gear that is needed to ensure safety while out in the wilderness. Whether on an overnight trip or a longer, extended trip, having the proper gear can literally be the difference between comfort and misery or even life and death.

This has been a learning experience for me as I’ve watched my husband start out with basic gear like a backpack, sleeping bag, first aid kit, tent etc. then move onto more obscure gear like a headlamp, bear canister, backpacking stove and sanitation trowel (don’t ask). The list can and does go on and on, with the ultimate goal being to pack as lightly as possible, while making sure you have all that you need for an enjoyable experience.

One aspect of backpacking that cannot be overlooked, even on the shortest trips, is a way to have clean, fresh drinking water. It is not always possible or practical to bring all of the drinking water needed with you from home. While the water flowing down a mountain stream may look pure and refreshing, it is likely full of bacteria, parasites and other contaminates. Drinking contaminated water can lead to a host of problems, least of which can include nausea, fever, diarrhea, vomiting and intense abdominal cramping.

Knowing this, I am determined to make sure my husband has safe drinking water each time he sets off on an adventure. Luckily, there are many options available to achieve this goal. FiltersFast.com has a variety of reusable, lightweight water bottles with built in filtration systems, such as:

Sawyer SP181 – All In One Filter System – This kit gives you options as to purifying a smaller 32 oz drinking pouch or a large 5 gallon bucket in case you set-up camp for an extended period or are purifying water for an entire group.

As you can see, there are numerous ways to purify drinking water while out in the wilderness. It is such an important safety measure and cannot be disregarded. If you have a backpacker or any kind of outdoorsy person in your life, consider visiting FiltersFast.com this holiday season for a gift that will ensure safety and provide peace of mind.